We have the pleasure to inform you that the Prague Process has introduced the regular update of the country factsheets, now featuring the latest migration-related trends and policy developments in Ireland, Poland and Türkiye.
Here are a couple of highlights that offer a glimpse into recent developments. Explore the full version of the factsheets to review the detailed analysis and data.
Ireland: Growing first residence permits and asylum applications
- Over the past four years, the number of first residence permits issued to non-EU nationals steadily increased from 30,382 in 2020 to 79,985 in 2024, with the peak of 88,595 permits in 2023. Most 2024 permits were granted for education (38,416), employment (19,078), and other reasons (18,297). The number of non-Irish citizens employed in the Irish economy has risen too. Of the 2.7 million people currently working in Ireland, around half a million are non-Irish nationals.
- Between 2021 and 2024, the number of asylum applications in Ireland rose more than sevenfold, from 2,615 to 18,435. This surge mirrors broader European trends of increased mixed migration flows and secondary movements triggered by recent global crises.
- Irregular migration to Ireland remains modest but has seen relative growth. According to Eurostat, 3,265 non-EU nationals were found illegally present in Ireland in 2024, twice the 2023 number and the largest number since 2014. The main nationalities included Georgians (795), Pakistanis (385) and Brazilians (285), followed by smaller numbers from Algeria, India, and Nigeria.
Poland: From emigration to immigration
- Poland has long been one of Europe’s major migrant-sending countries. However, migration dynamics have shifted markedly transforming Poland into a country of immigration, with a recorded net inflow of 9,300 migrants in 2024. According to UN DESA, the stock of immigrants in Poland stood at 1,739,901 immigrants in 2024. with the largest migrant communities originating from Ukraine, the UK and Germany.
- In 2024, Poland issued 488,848 first residence permits to non-EU nationals, a decrease from the 642,789 permits issued in 2023, and the lowest figure recorded in the past decade. Of these, 69% were issued for employment, 21% for other reasons, and the remainder for education and family reasons in nearly equal shares.
- In early 2025, approximately 78% of adult Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland were employed: 93% among pre-war migrants and 68% among those who arrived after 2022.
- In 2024, 17,000 foreigners filed applications for international protection in Poland. The two largest groups of applicants were citizens of Ukraine (7,000) and Belarus (3,900), followed by Russia (985), Somalia (605) and Eritrea (564). The number of asylum applications was 79% higher compared to 2023 and close to the levels of 2015.
Türkiye: Evolving migration dynamics
- Türkiye is a country of emigration, immigration, and transit. The country’s population reached 85,664,944 in 2024, where population growth is driven primarily by natural increase, with net migration remaining negative since 2015, reflecting a long-term trend of emigration, especially among working-age and skilled groups.
- The number of first residence permits issued to Turkish citizens in the EU grew steadily from 61,979 permits in 2020 to 111,515 permits in 2024. In 2024, the majority were issued for family reasons (39,462), employment (28,227) and education (18,385). Germany, the Netherlands and France issued most family permits, while Germany, Poland and Romania led in employment-related permits.
- According to UN DESA 2024, Türkiye’s immigration stock stood at 7,083,501, with most migrants originating from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Russia. In 2024, the immigration flow to Türkiye totalled 314,588 individuals, a figure similar to the previous year. Among foreign immigrants, Azerbaijani citizens ranked first (9.9%), followed by Turkmen (9.8%), Uzbeks (7.6%), Russians (7.5%), and Iranians (5.9%).
All the factsheets can be accessed through the interactive map here.
The factsheets offer concise and valuable insights in the migration landscape of these countries, providing data from both national and international sources. They also highlight key developments in migration policies and legislation. While the national data is updated by the Secretariat and ICMPD colleagues as well as external experts, the data from international sources is refreshed automatically as it becomes available.
Our Repository contains the latest publications of the Migration Observatory and Training Academy of the Prague Process.
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